Philipsburg-Osceola students cap off coat drive

Middle school kids are using warm hearts to help cold hands (and heads and bodies) in the Philipsburg area.

The Philipsburg-Osceola Area Middle School student council conducted a coat drive in December, looking to collect as many coats, hats, gloves and other cold-weather clothing as possible to give to programs in the area that help people stay warm.

It was more than just a class project, or even a school endeavor.

They involved the whole community by brokering a deal.

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For one boys basketball game, one girls basketball game and one wrestling meet earlier in the month, admission was waived if you brought in a new pair of gloves, a new hat, or a new or gently used coat. People took them up on that offer.

On Dec. 17, the kids loaded up cars from the American Legion’s Sharing Closet with the donations. It wasn’t one coat or two.

Student council adviser Jackie Mills said she has no idea how many individual items were actually donated.

Why? Because what the kids turned over was 14 industrial-sized garbage bags crammed with winter outerwear.

“It was really good. We not only did the sporting events, but the kids also brought stuff to the school,” said Mills.

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